Prince William: Diana would have been so proud to see her bereaved child charity grow up

Take That: Prince William and Gary Barlow at the 21st birthday dinner to honour the work of Child Bereavement UK
Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Jason Collie15 October 2015

The Duke of Cambridge has paid tribute to a charity which supports families that have lost loved ones - telling them his mother would have been "immensely proud" of the organisation she helped to launch.

William praised volunteers and workers for the "enormous, positive difference" they made to families suffering bereavement and said he understood their importance even more now he is a father.

Speaking at a dinner in Whitehall for the 21st anniversary of the Child Bereavement UK (CBUK) charity, of which he is a patron, William said the organisation "embraces strangers at the darkest moments in their life".

CBUK supports parents who have lost children as well as offering help to a child if they experience bereavement themselves.

The charity was first launched in 1994 with Diana, Princess of Wales as a keen supporter and William said his mother had recognised the grief losing a child can cause.

He added: "My mother was determined to help those in need and she would have been immensely proud - as I am - of all that Child Bereavement UK has achieved these last 21 years.

"CBUK works with military families, with the wrecked families of suicide victims, with little children whose lives have been torn apart by the inexplicable death of a parent.

"And yet amid all this misery, CBUK - and I don't know how they do this - brings warmth, comfort, a guiding hand, a way through, even colour and joyfulness, and a renewed opportunity for love as a family reknits itself after tragedy."

Singer Gary Barlow and his wife, whose daughter Poppy was born stillborn in 2012, performed at the celebration dinner.

Mr Barlow said: "Dawn and I have always felt our own personal bereavement was too painful and private to talk or comment on publicly.

"Instead I will sing joyous music in support of Child Bereavement UK to say thank you for all the help it has given us and many other families."

Founder patron of the charity, Julia Samuel, said the anniversary was a celebration of their work.

She said: "Tonight is a celebration of our 21st birthday. We are grown up now. And we have real confidence in our ability to go forward and reach out to the people who need us most."

The Duke of Cambridge encouraged the supporters to continue helping the charity. He said: "I invite everyone to stand and to raise a glass in grateful celebration of 21 years ... Happy Birthday."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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